PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. has signed a law amending fixed terms for key officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Under Republic Act No 11939, the Armed Forces chief will now have a maximum tour of duty of three consecutive years (from three years, with possible extension in case of war), unless sooner terminated by the President.
For service commanders or the commanding generals of the Philippine Army and Philippine Air Force and the flag-officer-in-command of the Philippine Navy, they will have a maximum tour of duty of two consecutive years, unless earlier terminated (from three consecutive years, unless earlier terminated,).
The Superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy will also have a maximum tour of duty of two consecutive years, unless earlier terminated, from four years.
RA 11939, which was approved by the President on May 17, amends RA 11709 signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in April 2022. Lawmakers pushed for the amendment of RA 11709 following some “grumblings” in military over the AFP Fixed Term law.
The new law also states that the service commanders and the PMA superintendent would not be eligible for any post in the AFP unless promoted to chief of staff.
It also states that the compulsory retirement age for enlisted officers with the ranks of second lieutenant or ensign to lieutenant general or vice admiral is 57 years, or after 30 years of active duty. The previous compulsory age of retirement is 56.
Those commissioned under Presidential Decree No. 1908 and those appointed in the Corps of Professors, meanwhile, will have a compulsory retirement age of 60 years old.
The law also increases the maximum tenure-in-grade or the maximum number of years an individual could hold their position to five years, from three years, for those with ranks brigadier general or commodore, and to 10 years from the eight years for colonels or captains in the Philippine Navy.
The Armed Forces, through spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar, welcomed the new law “which provides the much-needed amendments to RA 11709.”
“We believe that the changes will further strengthen professionalism in the military and ensure the continuity of programs while maintaining the AFP’s dynamic and progressive promotion system,” said Aguilar. — With Victor Reyes
